- Category
- Latest news
Russia Turns Abandoned Donetsk METRO Into Shahed Drone Base—Ukraine Strikes Back
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian Defense Forces have struck infrastructure that Russian forces were constructing for Shahed drones on the grounds of Donetsk airport.
According to satellite images published by the Cyberboroshno community, the site was located in a building that previously housed a METRO store, approximately one kilometer from the runway.
The images indicate that the building was hit 5–6 times, leaving visible holes in the roof. Information regarding internal equipment or damage has not yet been confirmed. The exact coordinates of the facility are 48.065190, 37.746970.
Satellite images show ongoing work on abandoned parking areas near the airport, likely connected to preparations for fuel tanks or other technical infrastructure. Additional changes were documented on the runway, where embankments were cleared, as well as around the former METRO building.
According to Cyberboroshno’s assessment, Russian forces are preparing the airport grounds to support Shahed and Gerbera drones with remote control capability.
The infrastructure reportedly includes manual control stations, unloading areas for warheads, decoy positions, and air-observation posts, alongside preparations of the runway.
Earlier satellite imagery from Bryansk and Oryol regions showed that Russia can construct fully operational Shahed launch sites in about one month, including roads, launch pads, and underground storage facilities. Analysts warn this rapid build-up allows Moscow to deploy new launch points with minimal notice.
